As negotiations between owners and players have reached a standstill, the NFL lockout has already sent some players looking elsewhere for work. And when your job as an elite athlete is to keep yourself in top physical condition and hit people, boxing has an understandable draw. ﻿

Baltimore Ravens safety and former Notre Dame captain Tommy Zbikowski(R),Chicago,Ill. talks with his new Hall of Fame trainer Emanuel Steward during a special media luncheon in New York City for his upcoming feature fight on the undercard of "Featherweight Fury" , Gamboa vs Solis on Saturday, March 26, at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City. Photo: Chris Farina

Baltimore Ravens safety Tom Zbikowski has returned to the ring, where he had a stellar amateur career before being drafted to the NFL. He's already fought once this month, knocking out Richard Bryant in the first round. Since then, he has been working with legendary trainer Emanuel Steward, and finds himself on the undercard of this week's Boxing After Dark matchup between Yuriorkis Gamboa and Jorge Solis.

"He has a great natural rhythm and he's always in position when he is punching," Steward says. "He doesn't box like a football player. He boxes like a boxer." Bryant isn't the only NFL athlete trading in the gridiron for the sweet science, Vikings defensive end Ray Edwards is also on the same path, eyeing his first ever professional bout sometime in April.

UPCOMING FIGHTS

INSTAGRAM

After scoring a 2nd-round knockdown, @jorgelinares fought off a resolute @luke11campbell to retain his titles in a split-decision victory. #LinaresCampbell

In a hard-fought, back-and-forth battle, @jorgelinares overcomes a gutsy rally from @luke11campbell to earn a split-decision victory and defend his lightweight titles. #LinaresCampbell

Fight night STARTS NOW with the exclusive replay of @canelo vs. @gggboxing followed immediately by live boxing featuring the lightweight title bout between @jorgelinares and @luke11campbell.
Tune in now to HBO World Championship Boxing. #CaneloGGG #LinaresCampbell

Will @luke11campbell take home @jorgelinares' title belts tonight?
Tune in to HBO World Championship Boxing at 10 PM ET/PT for the exclusive replay of #CaneloGGG followed immediately by #LinaresCampbell.

@jorgelinares puts his lightweight titles on the line against @luke11campbell on Saturday.
Will Campbell be ready? Tune in to HBO at 10 PM ET/PT. #LinaresCampbell

"Andre Ward ends his boxing career as he only knew how to live it -- as a champion at the top. To watch Ward was to marvel at constant mastery of craft in the ring, to say nothing of his being the consummate role model outside it. The Hall of Fame will be lucky to have him.
"We wish Andre and his family much success and happiness as he explores new opportunities, including with our own HBO family as one of the expert analysts on our broadcast team.
"It was a privilege for HBO to serve as the television platform for many of his landmark achievements in the sport he loves." - Peter Nelson, Executive Vice President, HBO Sports

Saturday: Watch three-division world champ @jorgelinares defend his lightweight titles against hard-hitting rising star @luke11campbell.
Tune in to @HBO World Championship Boxing Saturday at 10 PM ET/PT for the replay of #CaneloGGG followed by #LinaresCampbell.

A fight that was years in the making exceeded all expectations. #CaneloGGG